Lions’ Millen says he won’t quit

Detroit Lions General Manager Matt Millen said Tuesday that quitting was not an option he has considered despite criticism of the team’s dismal performance in his tenure.

“I’ll never quit,” Millen said in an interview with a small group of reporters, including the Detroit News, which posted some of his comments on its website. “I can’t do that. I don’t even consider that.”

Detroit is an NFL-worst 24-72 since Millen took control of football operations before the 2001 season. The Lions were 3-13 this season.

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Denver police asked for help finding Darrent Williams’ killer as coaches and teammates gathered at Broncos headquarters to honor the 24-year-old player gunned down after a New Year’s Eve party.

“Darrent was a guy that was always upbeat, always had a smile and he was a fierce competitor,” said Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan, fighting back tears.

Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting early Monday, hours after the Broncos were eliminated from playoff contention.

“We’re working around the clock on this investigation,” police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. “It’s a situation where anyone who knows what happened or has any information, we’d love to hear.”

Williams sustained a single gunshot wound to the neck, according to Robert Whitmore, chief medical examiner in the county coroner’s office.

The team will hold a private memorial today at Broncos headquarters so that Williams’ teammates can tell his family what he meant to them. The team also will fly together to Fort Worth for Williams’ funeral on Saturday.

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Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio fired five assistants, two days after the team lost its third consecutive game.

Del Rio fired offensive coordinator Carl Smith, special teams coordinator Pete Rodriguez, quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson and wide receivers coach Steve Walters. Del Rio also did not renew the contract of special teams assistant Mark Michaels.

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The NFL ruled that the block by a Tennessee receiver that injured New England safety Rodney Harrison over the weekend was legal.

Mike Pereira, the league’s director of officiating, said Titans receiver Bobby Wade didn’t commit an illegal crack-back block because he was blocking upfield and not back toward the ball, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Harrison injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, according to the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. It wasn’t clear how long he’ll be sidelined. New England plays host to the New York Jets in an opening-round playoff game Sunday.

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New York Giants starting cornerback Corey Webster was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list with toe and hip problems.

Webster was re-injured on Saturday in a 34-28 win over the Washington Redskins that helped the Giants (8-8) make the playoffs. They play at Philadelphia on Sunday.

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Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders is expected to play Saturday when the team opens the playoffs against Kansas City.

Sanders said his injured knee was feeling better than it has in weeks and he planned to practice this week.